Applicator



July 30, 192.5. J. T. HEFLlN 2,909,773

APPLICATOR Filed June 21, 1934 Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,009,773 'APPLIC'ATOR v 7 James Thomas Heflin, Lafayette, Ala. Application June-21,1934, Serial him-731,120 r 1 Claim. (01. 128-67) V w p This invention relates to an applicator for use in connection with the hair and scalp, and it is an object of the invention to providea device or g V instrument of this kind forputting tonic or other "6 fluid on the hair and in a manner whereby the liquid reaches the root of every hair and covers the scalp completely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which in its use assures every hair being thoroughly saturated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this'kind comprising a toothed head which may be easily and conveniently drawn over the scalp andthrough thehair and wherein provision is made for the discharge of liquid through the teeth and at the crotches between the teeth thereby to assure effective application of the liquid upon the scalp and hair.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device or instrument of this kind comprising a comb-like head having discharge ports for tonic or other liquids passing through the teeth of the head and to the crotches between the teeth and leading from a compressible reservoir disposed outwardly with respect to a side face of the head, said reservoir also constituting a handle member whereby the head may be drawn over the scalp and through the hair. 7

The invention consists in the details of con.- struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved applicator whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an applicator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub- 50 stantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

My improved applicator as herein disclosed comprises a relatively short head I having projecting from a longitudinal edge thereof a pluralityof "teeth! herein disclosed as three innumber. Thetee'th 2 are substantially coplanar with theheadl and integrallyformedtherewith. "The headI and teeth 2 are also preferably '5 formed of a 7 material which is substantially transparent so that visual access can be readily had to the various ports formed within the head and teeth to be'hereinafter more particularly referred to. V r

The head I and teeth 2 are relatively thick so that the same possess amaximum of strength to resist rough usage and to assure the teeth 2 being substantially rigid so that the same can be employed to advantage in massaging the scalp.

"The head I at substantially its longitudinal center is provided with an outwardly directed stem 3 having itsaxialcenter substantially at right angles to the head Iwith the inner portion 4 of said stem, or that portion-4 immediately 20 adjacent to the head I, enlarged to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder 5 for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned."The outer or free end portion of thestem 3 isof a bulbous formation, as at 6, to facilitate the maintenance upon the stem 25 3 of the reservoir bulb B;

This bulb reservoir B is formed of a.rubber compound or other mater'ial'suitable tor the purposes desired and is provided'at one end with a neck 1 into the bore "of which the stem 3 is adapted to be snugly engaged. The extent of insertion of the stem 3 into the neck is limited by contact of the outer face of the neck with the shoulder 5 hereinbefore referred to whereby it is assured that the applied bulb reservoir will offer 35 no hindrance or obstruction to the efficiency of the device or instrument when in use.

Disposed through the stem 3 is a port 8 open at its outer end and in communication at its inner end with a port 9 extending longitudinally of the 40 head I and open at one end of the head. The opposite end of this port 9 is permanently closed by the head. In communication with the port 9 are the ports I0 which extend transversely through the head and continue through the teeth 2. The head I is also provided with transversely spaced ports I I which lead from the port 9 and discharge at the crotches between the inner ends of adjacent teeth 2. The open end of the port 9 is sealed by a plug I2 which may be of wood or any desired material and which is of a character to be readily removed. The removal of this plug I2 facilitates the cleaning out of the ports in the device should any foreign matter become lodged therein.

By having the head I and teeth 2 and also the stem 3 of a substantially transparent material visual perception may be readily had as hereinbefore stated of the various ports to determine whether or not such ports are open for flow.

The tonic or other liquid to be used is taken into the bulb reservoir B by suction which is done by submerging the head I and teeth 2 into the liquid with the bulb reservoir squeezed or compressed. Upon release of the bulb reservoir the liquid will be drawn through the ports II, in, 9 and 8 into the bulb reservoir.

As the head I is drawn through the hair the teeth 2 preferably contact with the scalp and during this operation the tubular reservoir B is given the pressure needed to keep a constant flow of the tonic out through the ports Ill and II. When the tonic in the reservoir B becomes exhausted it can be readily refilled in the manner hereinbefore described.

The bulb reservoir B also constitutes a handle whereby the use of the device is materially facilitated and of course the pressure for effecting the desired discharge of the fluid is done by the hand grasping the bulb reservoir. It is also to be noted that the reservoir B is disposed substantially at right angles to a side of the head I thus permitting the head I and the teeth 2 to be readily and conveniently drawn through the hair and over the scalp free of any downward pressure upon the scalp unless desired.

After the hair has been thoroughly saturated with the tonic or other desired liquid the hair and scalp is then to be rubbed allover the head with the finger tips with the flngers flat or with the open hand until the tonic or other material is largely taken up by the scalp and the hair. After this treatment the hair is combed in the usual way. 'If a portion of the hair appears dry, apply the amount of tonic or other material needed by drawing the applicator through that portion of the hair.

The hair and scalp are to be treated as often as desired although I have found that-after treating the hair and scalp with my improved applicator for two successive days it is then generally required that such treatment be repeated only twice weekly. I have also found that by treating the scalp and hair with my improved applicator the hair and scalp maintain a healthy condition and that the hair retains its luster and natural color.

I wish to particularly emphasize that with my improved applicator the tonic or other fluid is carried to the roots of the hair all over the scalp while of course the discharge of the liquid through the ports I I assures desired thorough saturation of all portions of the hair. It is also to be particularly noted that the head I is of a size to be readily grasped within a hand and particular- 1y by the digits to facilitate the rubbing of the teeth through the hair, and upon the scalp and such use of .the device is further facilitated by the fact that the back of the head provides a rest for one of the digits of the hand.

From the foregoing description it is thought to 'be obvious that an applicator constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and used, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:- I

A liquid applicator for use in connection with the scalp and hair comprising a short head having three thick teeth extending from a longitudinal margin thereof, said teeth being coplanar with the head, one of the teeth being positioned at the longitudinal center of the head and the remaining two teeth being positionedclosely adjacent to the intermediate tooth and 'equi-distantly spaced therefrom, a short stem extending from a face of the head and substantially at right angles to the teeth, said head having aport disposed lengthwise thereof and havingadditional ports leading from the first named port through the teeth and other ports leading from theiirst named port and discharging at the orotches be tween the inner ends of the adjacent teeth, the stem having a port therethrough in communica tion with the first named port, and a compressible reservoir operatively engaged with the stem, said bulb reservoir also constituting an operating handle and the back of the head providing arest' for a digit. JAMES THOMAS HEFLIN. 

